ITA Airways' new direct flight from Rome Fiumicino to Jeddah, the second destination served by the airline in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh, started on 1 August.

ITA Airways’ new A321neos operates on the Jeddah route

"This flight boosts our presence in Saudi Arabia, a very fast growing market,- said Emiliana Limosani, ITA Airways’ COO and  CEO of Volare. -This new opening follows the introduction of the direct flights to Riyadh last June, and is part of the current expansion of our summer network, which boasts excellent results in terms of bookings. The Jeddah flights, operated with a new A321neo, will expand the medium-haul network and boost commercial and cultural exchanges between the Arabian Peninsula and Italy, in addition to guaranteeing connections with our network of destinations reachable from our Rome Fiumicino hub.”

“In the first half of 2024 traffic grew by a further +34%”

"After a 2023 with record levels of growth the Saudi Arabian market continues to record very positive performances, - said Ivan Bassato, chief aviation officer of Aeroporti di Roma. - In the first half of 2024 traffic from Rome Fiumicino grew by a further +34% compared to the same period last year, with flows even quintupled compared to 2019. We are confident that the launch of these new ITA flights to Jeddah will contribute to boosting the ongoing development trend, to the full benefit of mobility between Italy and Saudi Arabia. It will also expand interconnection opportunities to other international destinations offered directly from our hub, with particular reference to ITA’s growing offer on the American market."

ITA operates on 57 destinations this summer

The newly launched Jeddah flight operates three weekly frequencies, departing from Rome Fiumicino on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and returning from Jeddah on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. ITA's summer network now counts 57 destinations of which 16 are domestic, 26 international and 15 intercontinental.

Italy continues to be a perennial favorite for summer holidays with European travellers. In fact, it comes second as the most popular European holiday choice, after Portugal and before Spain, in a recent survey from the Jetcost search engine.

Rome

Rome tops the poll as the first choice of destination city in Italy for French, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese visitors, Catania is the top pick for Germans, and Milan is the favourite for UK visitors and the second for Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese visitors. Venice is the third most requested city by Spanish travellers and the fourth for the UK market, with Naples in third place for German and UK visitors and fourth for French tourists while cities in Sicily, Sardinia and Tuscany are also high in the ratings . 

Venice

What draws European visitors to Italy? The sun, its golden beaches, culture, traditions and festivals, of course its food and wines but also the quality of its hotels and the fact that it is less expensive than other European countries.  

Napoli

The Jetcost survey also highlights how European travellers who search online for flights are up by 12% compared to August last year, while those searching for hotels are up by 14%.

Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor

Eight proposals of culture, food and wine, environment and art that you can ONLY do in Savona, Liguria’s coastal gem.

Blue Flag beaches and the thirst-quenching Chinotto

The city of Savona and its area, in the running for the title of Italian Capital of Culture 2027, are easily accessible and offer unique experiences within everyone's reach, and that can be done only here. Among the Blue Flag beaches is the Fornaci Beach, located in the city in a popular district, while the Porto della Darsena, located in the heart of the historic city, is another popular spot with locals and visitors. Find out more at www.visitsavona.com/it/da-scoprire/spiagge-e-litorali.html  The chinotto is a small citrus fruit unique in quality and aroma that comes from an evergreen plant native to China. Savona's chinotto is processed using an artisanal method and there are several places where it can be tasted in the form of a drink with a bitter aftertaste. One of the most popular is the old Besio pastry shop in Piazza Mameli, which has guarded the secrets of candying and processing the chinotto since 1860.  

credits BMC SEA

A majestic fortification and a local chickpea delicacy

Priamar one of the most imposing fortifications in the Mediterranean, dating back almost 500 years and dominating the sea with a 360 degree view. Built between 1542 and 1544, today it is a cultural centre. Not to be missed is a visit to the underground passages. The tour lasts about one and a half hours and it is recommended that you bring a torch and wear comfortable shoes. Find out more at: https://www.museoarcheosavona.it/  If you are familiar with the chickpea yellow farinata, which is popular throughout Italy, get ready to surprise your palate with the only white farinata in existence. It is made only in Savona and is a historical legacy dating back 500 years. The perfect white farinata must be crunchy but at the same time soft and be cooked in an oven at 400 degrees. And the same oven cannot be used for pizzas! To find out more: https://www.visitsavona.com/it/da-scoprire/prodotti-tipici-ricette.html

The Apple Museum and the Bell of Peace

Apple Museum credit AAA Museum

Visit “All About Apple” which houses more than 10,000 items from the world of Apple all in working order. This unique museum has almost the entire Apple production from its beginnings in 1976 to the present day, and it is the best stocked Apple museum in the world that allows visitors to explore first-hand the machines on display all of which are switched on and in working order - personal computers, monitors, printers, keyboards, floppy drives, hard disks, accessories, etc. You name it, it’s here.  Find out more at: https://www.allaboutapple.com/  Thrill to the tolling of the Peace Bell while everything around you stands still. Every day at 6 p.m., the bell of the War Memorial strikes 21 chimes, one per letter of the (Italian) alphabet, in memory of the victims of all wars. At the first toll, everything stops: leaving cars in the middle crossroads, pedestrians where they stand, and shopkeepers as they serve customers, for this tradition that dates back almost 100 years.   Fun fact: it is the Savona attraction with the highest rating on TripAdvisor. 

Sistine Chapel

Beautiful blue tiles and the ‘other’ Sistine Chapel

Immerse yourself in the white and blue world of maiolica in the workshops of the masters of ceramics. The fascination of ceramics is timeless, and its roots are in the Savona area, which has become known as the Bay of Ceramics, a project that unites Savona, Albissola Marina, Albisola Superiore and Celle Ligure. Find out more at:
Ceramic Museum http://musa.savona.it/museodellaceramica/  Did you know that the Sistine Chapel in Rome is not unique? In fact Savona is home to “the other” Sistine Chapel, commissioned by the same pontiff, Sixtus IV (1471-1484). Alas, the magnificent original frescoes are no longer visible except for a few small portions but is it still worth seeing. Find out more at https://cattedralesavona.it/cappella-sistina-di-savona/

Museum of Ceramics credit Federico Farci

The Tenuta d'Arbia is a new relais farmhouse in Tuscany, and a place for all seasons. 

Astronomical observations your round

Located between Chianti to the north and Montalcino and Montepulciano to the south, the property has eight rooms overlooking the 30-metre salt-water infinity pool and views of the surrounding countryside. To enrich the experience, there is the possibility of personalized astronomical observations at any time of the year, thanks to a guide and an Astronomitaly telescope. It is also possible to take cooking classes and enjoy local wine and oil tastings, to go truffle hunting and much more, with experiences tailored to each time of the year.

Sighting the Milky Way on 5 August

On 5 August, with the new moon, the estate will host a unique astronomical event  entitled Under the Tuscan Milky Way. This is reserved for those staying overnight at the estate. Tenuta d'Arbia is, in short, a gateway to an area that, in every season, offers unique experiences: from bright sunny summers to autumns of grape harvesting in the Chianti and Brunello areas while, from the end of October, the search for truffles begins.

The Soges Group has taken over the Malaspina and plans to rebrand it a Place of Charme.

Three major operations completed in a month

The intense activity of the Soges Group continues. Following its debut on the stock market last June, it has now completed its third operation in about a month (the others were the Park Hotel Chianti and the Art Hotel Atelier in Florence. Ed.) Now the Tuscan company has signed a nine-plus-nine lease agreement for the management of the Hotel Malaspina in Florence

Aiming to reopen as a Place of Charm in April 2025

The hotel is in the historic centre of Florence and has been closed since the Covid period.  Currently it has 31 rooms, nine of which are singles and 22 doubles, but it will undergo major work by Soges to upgrade its energy efficiency and make over the interiors. The aim is to reopen to guests under the Place of Charme brand in April 2025.

“The property has enormous potential”

The agreement envisages a rent of €280,000 per annum for the first two years, €270,000 for the 3rd year, €220,000 from the 4th year and €250,000 from the 10th year. The effectiveness of the agreement is, however, conditional on the execution judge issuing the authorization to sign the agreement by 30 September. The property where the Hotel Malaspina is located is in fact currently subject to foreclosure. “The management of Hotel Malaspina is an important step forward for us,- says Soges Group CEO Andrea Galardi. -It is a redevelopment project of great value. The property has enormous potential, and we are thrilled to bring it back to life. Our decision to invest in this property is strategic because it consolidates the Place of Charme brand in Florence. 

Could this be the right time for Nobu’s planned hotel in Rome?

It will be the first Nobu brand property in Italy

Announced for the following summer in November 2021, but still only a pipe dream, the project for the first Nobu Hotel in Italy now seems to have taken a decisive turn for the better. In fact the asset management company Castello Sgr has signed a €135 million loan for the refinancing and relaunch of the former Grand Hotel Via Veneto in Rome, planned as the first Italian property of the brand founded by Robert De Niro with the Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Meir Teper.

122 rooms and suites and a Nobu Restaurant

The opening is now scheduled for spring 2025, and will see the property totally renovated, with 122 rooms and suites designed by a leading New York design studio. Numerous facilities will be added, including of course the Nobu Restaurant, a rooftop lounge bar, meeting spaces, a city spa with a fitness centre and a club lounge. 

In the heart of Rome’s Dolce Vita district

The Nobu Hotel Roma will be in the heart of the Dolce Vita district, which already has many luxury hotels and where other new luxury brand openings are planned. “We are delighted to contribute to the opening in Rome of the first Nobu Hotel in Italy,- says Giampiero Schiavo, managing director of Castello Sgr. -This deal further testifies to the appeal and the room for growth of the high-end hospitality market in the capital, which has been at the centre of many of the most significant transactions on a national scale over the last two years.” 

Flying taxis are set to debut in the skies over Lombardy and Northern Italy in 2027.

Lombardy get over 37 million annual visitors

Thanks to the signing of an mou between Lilium, a leading manufacturer of electric aircraft and pioneer of Regional Air Mobility, Sea Milan Airports and Skyports Infrastructure  which is specialized in vertiport infrastructure for the regional air mobility industry. The agreement, reached at the Farnborough International Airshow, lays the foundation for the development of a network of vertiports for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVtol) aircraft. Lombardy in particular is a strategically important location for the partners: almost one fifth of Italy's population resides here and with over 37 million annual visitors, air mobility will complement and supplement the region's existing mobility solutions, offering faster and lower-emission travel between major locations.

The first route will be from Malpensa Airport to Milan

The network of vertiports operated with Lilium Jet will be operational by 2027, with a series of regional air mobility routes serving the main locations in Lombardy: the first will connect Milan Malpensa Airport - which handled more than 26 million passengers last year - and the centre of Milan. For the development and operation of the vertiports in Lombardy and Italy, Sea, Skyports and their shareholder 2i Aeroporti are setting up a joint venture company.

The air taxis will carry from 2 to 7 passengers

The air taxi developed by Lilium - awaiting approval for operations by Easa (in Europe) and Faa (in the USA) - is capable of carrying from 2 to 7 people, can reach speeds of 300 kilometres per hour and cover distances of up to 190 kilometres. It has received 796 orders, including the 100 requested in recent days by the Arab carrier Saudia. In Lombardy, the first route that will be inaugurated after the necessary authorizations and will connect Milan's Malpensa airport with the centre of Milan. 

An estimated 2,000 passengers daily in 2030

‘In 2030 we estimate around 2,000 passengers carried by flying taxis every day in the area,2  Sea's CEO Armando Brunini said recently. To build the first four vertiports, investments of just over €30 million are planned. In 2030, turnover is expected to be around €13 million with a profit of around €2 million.  “As we continue to collaborate with key global partners with strong expertise in key markets this partnership will help unlock new potential for regional air transport infrastructure in Northern Italy,- said Sebastien Borel, CCO Lilium. -This partnership will support our vision of pioneering a new era of regional air mobility in Europe with the electrification of premium tourist routes in the region.”

The five-language, 120-page guide to the Costa degli Dei in Calabria returns for its fifteenth edition, printed once again in 17,000 copies. 

Guides to counteract the variables affecting tourism

Calabria’s bother guide, to the Costa Viola has been printed in 10,000 copies in three languages. “It is at times like these that the strengths and resilience of holiday destinations are measured,” say the publishers of the Calabrian magazine. The reference is to the effects of the various political and economic crises affecting tourism as well as the increasingly ruthless competition between tourist destination, but also to the bankruptcy of the German tourism giant FTI, which wiped out tens of thousands of tourists from beyond the Alps.

"Communications are fundamental, especially when the competition gets tougher, and with this in mind the print and digital 2024 Pronto Estate guides of the Costa degli Dei and the Costa Viola underscore once again that tourists can find a varied range of offers and services on site that will allow them to spend their holidays in the best possible way.” In the Costa degli Dei guide, the main sections have been confirmed: from the up-to-date maps to the sections dedicated to the ten things tourists must do. It also lists the best dishes to try, sports to practice, souvenirs to buy and activities for families and children. Plus excursions, travel companies, beaches and useful information. The Experiences section also describes activities where simply doing something will turn into a lifetime experience. 

Focussing on the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria

The Costa Viola guide provides 3-D maps, the various top ten, places to visit, excursions, food, beaches, and experiences, along with a new focus on the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria. Pronto Estate is also a dynamic web portal that makes it possible to plan a 360° holiday. The site, www.prontoestate.it, is an evolution of the printed tourist guide. “Our vision is reflected in our ability to activate a real virtual network between sponsors, private and public stakeholders, readers, organizations and associations, which through the guide and social networks contribute to showcasing the beauty of Calabria for the tourist-traveller.” 

Autentico Hotels announces the opening of a new property, La Monastica Resort & Spa,  which is its fourth in Tuscany.

The new resort is between Lucca and Pistoia

This brings to 19 the number of properties in Autentico Hotels’ portfolio in Italy. The new 5-star boutique hotel has been converted from an ancient 16th-century monastery, located in a medieval village. Half an hour from Versilia, between Lucca and Pistoia, it offers 19 rooms and suites and the Devoti gourmet restaurant, part of which is set up in the monastery's scenic former church. There is also a spa with an exclusive-use swimming pool carved out of the rock, and gardens with a Jacuzzi.

The original architecture has been preserved

“The owners of this resort have been able to preserve not only the architecture of the building, but also its historical-artistic treasures,- says Mario Cardone, CEO of Autentico Hospitality. -The restored mural designs of the monastery for example date back to over 400 years ago, and now they harmonize with the elegant modern furnishings.”

“We have safeguarded our uniqueness” 

“For our debut in hotellerie my father and I felt it was important to safeguard our uniqueness,- adds Monastica's owner Stefania Arrighetti. “We have invested in the customization of each individual room and suite, and we have created area that although for the public, emanate their own individuality.” 

The Ananea Yachting Resort by the German group Dertour (formerly Der Touristik), soft-opened in Tropea on 1 July. 

The rooms will grow from 21 to 57 next year

This is the first Italian property of the lifestyle brand launched in 2023, and is the result of the renovation and repositioning of the former La Pineta Hotel which is now a 4-star superior with 21 rooms that will rise to 57 in 2025. And next year a restaurant, beach bar and swimming pool will all be added.

The DMC Valentour manages the resort

The property is managed by the DMC Valentour through its V Collection, which, through business rental contracts, manages a number of other complexes in Calabria: the 4-star 80-key Baia d'Ercole village, the 3-star 12-apartment Borgo Italico residence, both located in Ricadi, as well as the 4-star 80-room Sentido Michelizia Tropea Resort, the five-room Blue Tropea Maison B&B and, again in Tropea, the four-key Palazzo Toraldo di Francia B&B. 

Dertour is present in nine properties in Italy

In the same Tropea resort the company also operates the Lido Blanca Beach Club by Valentour. In Italy, the Dertour group is present with a further eight properties, including the Sentido Michelizia Tropea Resort, as well as the Sentido Orosei Beach and the Sentido Lago di Garda.